Which is not considered a recommended use case for multiple Docker Compose files?

Multiple Docker Compose files provide flexibility in managing complex applications across various environments and configurations. The premise of using multiple compose files often revolves around enhancing modularity, ease of management, and environmental specificity. The context for each choice illustrates different approaches to structuring these files.

Having multiple compose files for different parts of an application or system is a common practice. It allows developers to modularize components, facilitating easier updates and deployments. By separating concerns, each service can have its configuration without cluttering a single file, improving maintainability.

On the other hand, using multiple compose files for independent versions of an application can be a practical approach, especially when managing different feature sets or testing new functionalities while keeping production stable. Also, setting up distinct configurations for various environments—like local, staging, or production—helps ensure that the application behaves correctly regardless of its deployment context.

Combining multiple compose files into one for simplicity, however, contradicts the intended modularity that multiple files provide. By merging files, one loses the clarity and flexibility that separate files offer for managing specific components or environments, making it less commonly recommended.

Thus, while having multiple compose files for modularity and configuration management is beneficial, combining them would typically not align with best practices, as it